A nuclear envelop-associated baculovirus protein promotes intranuclear lipid accumulation during infection

Although it has been well-accepted that baculoviruses produce a virus envelop within the nucleus, the redistribution of membrane lipids in infected cells has not been demonstrated. Here, we characterize a baculovirus protein (Bm5/Ac13: renamed BION; baculovirus protein associated with both the inner- and outer nuclear membranes) that localizes to both the inner- and outer nuclear membranes and show that the nuclear membrane (NE) protein promotes formation of a virus-induced intranuclear structure, the peristromal region (PR). Consistent with its role in virus envelopment, the PR was found to contain viral membrane proteins and lipids, suggesting PR formation proceeds through intranuclear lipid accumulation. About 50% of the cells infected with a bion-deficient virus exhibited no polyhedra production due to lack of the PR. Association of BION with the NE rather than the PR may contribute to the formation of the PR and polyhedra via NE-to-PR lipid transport.